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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199000062 Action Letter 1990-09-12 �OF Af./IF. �1ftGh\P COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 September 12 , 1990 Mr. Tim Michel 503 Faulconer Drive Suite 7B Charlottesville, VA 22901 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-90-62 , Tax Map 58, Parcel 84E Dear Mr. Michel: This letter is to inform you that on September 11, 1990, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board approved your request for VA-90-62 subject to the following conditions: 1. Wall signs shall be limited to 24 square feet per tenant and shall be based on 3/4 square foot: 1 linear foot total building frontage. 2 . Signs shall be uniform in style and colors. Signs shall be reviewed by the Director of Planning as to Scenic Area criteria. 3 . Identification sign shall be compatible to the wall signs in style and colors. The existing sign shall be reduced in height to not exceed 8 feet and 32 square feet of sign area. 4 . Lighting on the sign shall be reviewed by the Director of Planning. This variance approval allows relief from Section 30. 5.7. 2 to increase the total area of wall signs from 35 square feet to 240 square feet. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, John Grady Deputy Zoning Administrator JG/st cc: VA-90-62 STAFF PERSON: John Grady PUBLIC HEARING: September 11, 1990 STAFF REPORT - VA-90-62 OWNER/APPLICANT: Ivy Commons (owner) TAX MAP/PARCEL: 58/84E ZONING: C-1, Commercial ACREAGE: 1.59 acres LOCATION: Located on the north side of Route 250 west 0.2 miles west of Route 738 in Ivy. REQUEST: The applicant requests relief from Section 30. 5.7 .2 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, which states: "30.5 SCENIC AREAS OVERLAY DISTRICT - SA" "30. 5.7 . 2 Regulation of number, height, area, types of signs b. Business wall signs shall be limited to twenty (20) feet in height above grade, thirty-five (35) square feet per single sign face, and to one (1) sign per separate highway frontage. " The applicant requests a variance to increase the area of wall signs from 35 square feet to 240 square feet. This will allow the applicant to provide 10 tenants with approximately 24 square feet of wall signage each. Sign material will be painted wood or flexface vinyl. They will be uniform in color and character and lighted externally. Sign background is to be cream color with forest green letters. Applicant's justification for request: 1) Ivy Commons request is based on proposed changes to the sign ordinance currently being developed by the Zoning and Planning Departments. Although these changes are several months from Board adoption, Ivy Commons wanted to be in accordance with the proposal and enjoy the full support of the Zoning Staff. 2) As part of this request, it should be stated that the existing grandfathered identification sign for the motel, which is neon and is internally lit, will be refaced with a painted wood sign and lighted externally. 3) Ivy Commons has 320 feet of linear frontage on Route 250 west. Under the proposed scenic area sign regulation of three quarters of a square foot of signage per lineal foot of frontage (3/4 square foot: 1 linear foot) , Ivy Commons would be entitled to 240 square feet of signage with a maximum per establishment of 35 square feet. Page 2 Staff Report - VA-90-62 4) Ivy Commons would like to divide the 240 allowable square feet by up to 10 tenants, resulting in an average square footage per establishment of no more than 24 square feet. 5) All wall mounted signage will be restricted to painted wood with vinyl lettering. All such signs will be lighted externally. RECOMMENDATION: The staff proposes to amend the sign ordinance for the scenic highways, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors as follows: Wall signs shall be calculated by allowing three quarters (3/4) of a square foot to one (1) linear foot of business wall frontage per tenant. The maximum wall sign per tenant may not exceed thirty-five (35) square feet. Signs shall be uniform in material, color, and character and shall follow the design guidelines of the current Scenic Area. The applicant's proposal for wall signage will meet the criteria that is being proposed for the scenic area at this time. The sign materials, color, and style are in keeping with the architectural integrity of the site and have been approved by the Director of Planning. We do find it relevant to recommend conditions relating to the existing freestanding sign. This sign exceeds our current or proposed sign height and size regulations. A reduction in height with these additional wall signs, is an improvement to the site. Therefore, staff recommends approval for cause: 1. The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship; 2 . The applicant has provided evidence that such hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity; 3 . The applicant has provided evidence that the authorization of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property and that the character of the district will not be changed by the granting of the variance. Page 3 Staff Report - VA-90-62 Should the Board find cause to approve this variance staff would recommend the following conditions: 1) Wall signs shall be limited to 24 square feet per tenant and shall be based on 3/4 square foot: 1 linear foot total building frontage. 2) Signs shall be uniform in style and colors. Signs shall be reviewed by the Director of Planning as to Scenic Area criteria. 3) Identification sign shall be compatible to the wall signs in style and colors. The existing sign shall be reduced in height to not exceed 8 feet and 32 square feet of sign area.